LOE?

Not everyone who is 3Q receives a “3Q” letter from admissions. And those that do receive one (DS case) it can come long after the application DODMERB, CFA and everything was entirely completed.
So an applicant can be “thinking “ they are 3Q, but painfully waiting for the acknowledgement from admissions confirming 3Q. For DS being officially deemed 3Q and already having a PNOM, his waiting and wondering was essentially over. For most others with a NOM, the next waiting game starts all over again ....waiting for an appointment.

An LOE is not meaningless, and an LOA is of course an awesome thing, but they both still require you to wait through the process. An LOE is a great thing authorizing the overnight visit. DS would’ve went if he had the opportunity, but his mind was already set on USMA. For others who are unsure, it can be helpful in their decision.
DS had neither, but he had a Principal NOM. The wait for 3Q was painfully long even though we “thought “ he was 3Q.
Best advice is to stay focused on the ultimate goal.....an appointment. There is no shortcut or single path, just mandatory checkpoints. Everything else along the way is just part of the ride, bumpy, twisty, hilly, sometimes dead ends and turn backs and looong!
 
txfwindian said:
What is meant by 3Q? And is this term used across the SAs?
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I don't think 3Q is used across all SA's but rather just for USMA. Please chime in and correct me if I am wrong. This is my first rodeo.
 
3Q is a term for being triple qualified which is required for an appointment to any SA. To be deemed qualified physically (CFA), medically (DODMERB), and academically by the judging SA (note: each SA has different requirements/standards). One must be 3Q with a Nomination by the SA to continue the quest for an appointment to that SA.
 
DD’s experience was she received a 3Q letter from USMA only. She received appointments to all 3 SAs. Our understanding was that only USMA issued 3Q letters even though all SAs require one to be 3Q to get an appointment.
 
LOE is only used at USMA and is a very good thing. Not everyone gets an LOE. And an LOE is NOT a 3Q letter. 3 Q letters come out later usually after CFA and dodmerb are cleared and you are academically qualified. Plenty of great candidates do not get the more coveted LOA or LOE. It is not meaningless. GO!!!! to the overnight visit if at all possible. It shows them that you are serious about wanting to attend usma. Congratulations on the LOE! Schedule your overnight visit soon if possible. If you are not able to swing an overnight visit, that’s ok. Keep in touch with your FFR and regional commander. Communicate with them early and often.
 
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MidCakePa said:
And I’m going to go out on a limb and say that top-notch candidates who complete their applications in August don’t get LOEs either. Recently there was a great thread discussing the difference between correlation, causation and coincidence. It comes to mind right about now. (By the way, there’s no way of knowing someone is 3Q without a complete application. Hence someone who is 3Q has no need for an LOE.)
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Hopefully you did not go too far out on that limb. USMA certainly does send LOEs to candidates who have completed their files. My DD was done with her file in August and received an LOE in October. Her file had been done for many weeks. Holden100 who posted right above your original post in this thread is an example from this year of a completed file receiving an LOE.
 
jebdad said:
Hopefully you did not go too far out on that limb. USMA certainly does send LOEs to candidates who have completed their files. My DD was done with her file in August and received an LOE in October. Her file had been done for many weeks. Holden100 who posted right above your original post in this thread is an example from this year of a completed file receiving an LOE.
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Yes, thank you, jebdad; didn't want to sound like a broken record. . .DS's app was complete 9-15 (including medical), and the LOE was dated 9-23. It specifically stated his file had been reviewed and he was being encouraged to determine if WP is the right college for him, authorizing an overnight visit. Did your daughter do the overnight, and was it helpful?
 
So I have a question and I am hoping @shock-n-awe and other parents of USMA kiddos would weigh in. Our DS got an LOE today. We are in the far southwest region and it would mean a long day of travel for sure. He has visited USNA for summer stem. That has been his first choice. USMA is a close second and his 3 hour interview with FFR in August piqued his interest further. He has never been to USMA. It would be a logistical challenge re long drive to airport on our end and missing 2 days of honors dual credits. My gut says he should go. I have a hard time as a parent potentially sending a kid to college without them ever having stepped foot on the campus. And yes, it was nice to see the LOE but I am not equating it to anything other than what the letter states. Any thoughts? TIA.
 
Heatherg21 said:
So I have a question and I am hoping @shock-n-awe and other parents of USMA kiddos would weigh in. Our DS got an LOE today. We are in the far southwest region and it would mean a long day of travel for sure. He has visited USNA for summer stem. That has been his first choice. USMA is a close second and his 3 hour interview with FFR in August piqued his interest further. He has never been to USMA. It would be a logistical challenge re long drive to airport on our end and missing 2 days of honors dual credits. My gut says he should go. I have a hard time as a parent potentially sending a kid to college without them ever having stepped foot on the campus. And yes, it was nice to see the LOE but I am not equating it to anything other than what the letter states. Any thoughts? TIA.
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Same situation here. Timing of the LOE wasn't feasible for a trip there now (wrestling season getting underway, 5 AP classes), so it's not feasible to get there anytime soon. Missing even 1 day of school is tough, and with nomination interviews on the horizon and some days missed for wrestling, he just can't get there now. We decided he'd definitely make a trip there IF offered an appointment, before he has to make any decisions. Good luck to your DS! If he does go, please let us know how it went!
 
Holden100 said:
Same situation here. Timing of the LOE wasn't feasible for a trip there now (wrestling season getting underway, 5 AP classes), so it's not feasible to get there anytime soon. Missing even 1 day of school is tough, and with nomination interviews on the horizon and some days missed for wrestling, he just can't get there now. We decided he'd definitely make a trip there IF offered an appointment, before he has to make any decisions. Good luck to your DS! If he does go, please let us know how it went!
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Thank you. It seems to be the kind of kids that try to reach for this are really really busy kiddos. More than anything it is the flight times and late arrival and then early departure make it virtually no time on campus. If it were 2 nights I believe he would go. He could work with his teachers to make that work. And he would only miss one night teaching TKD. We will think it over. Good luck to your DS!
 
Heatherg21 said:
So I have a question and I am hoping @shock-n-awe and other parents of USMA kiddos would weigh in. Our DS got an LOE today. We are in the far southwest region and it would mean a long day of travel for sure. He has visited USNA for summer stem. That has been his first choice. USMA is a close second and his 3 hour interview with FFR in August piqued his interest further. He has never been to USMA. It would be a logistical challenge re long drive to airport on our end and missing 2 days of honors dual credits. My gut says he should go. I have a hard time as a parent potentially sending a kid to college without them ever having stepped foot on the campus. And yes, it was nice to see the LOE but I am not equating it to anything other than what the letter states. Any thoughts? TIA.
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Congratulations on the LOE!
There are plenty of kids who have not been to an SA before receiving their appointment. The CVW is a great opportunity if a candidate has the opportunity to attend, and is able to make it logistically possible to visit. Again, some are not offered the opportunity or are simply not able to attend. Maybe he could attend a Candidate day visit at a more convenient time of the year? WP offers daily tours where candidates shadow a Plebe for the day to classes and lunch. There are also briefings and tours for parents if they attend. Finally Candidates have an opportunity at the end of the day(early afternoon) to meet with the on duty RC to discuss the candidates application. We took advantage of the day visit with DS since he wasn’t offered a CVW opportunity. It was well worth it for us to make the time to attend from the Midwest !
Your DS has been to USNA, so he has a small taste, and a firsthand impression of the place and an SA and seems to like what he sees so far.
If he now has interest in USMA as well and is not able to visit, he can immerse himself in YouTube videos about life at as a Cadet at West Point etc.., as well as many other informative videos and information on the official WP website. He can also reach out to his FFR with any additional questions. The SA lifestyles will be very similar, it’s the mission of the particular service he should also research to determine what job(s) interest him and he would want to do after he commissions. Ultimately that is more important than where he gets his commission.
 
@shock-n-awe , thank you! All good insight. There are so few flights each day, and a long haul to the airport. Basically going from the Mexico border all the way to Maine (okay, almost that far). We will talk it over with him and see what he thinks about it. He was happy to see it. In his words, "that's a nice letter".
 
My son opted to wait on the overnight until he was appointed. He went in early April prior to accepting. There will be plenty of time to when schedules lighten up a bit.
 
In our case, visiting West Point made an big impact. Our son was waiting to hear from USNA, USAFA, and USMA. He attended NASS so already had an idea for USNA. But when he visited USMA in February...about the coldest time of the year, my Cali boy decided on USMA. I’d say, visit if possible before appointment so you know what you are in for.
 
ParadiseMom3 said:
In our case, visiting West Point made an big impact. Our son was waiting to hear from USNA, USAFA, and USMA. He attended NASS so already had an idea for USNA. But when he visited USMA in February...about the coldest time of the year, my Cali boy decided on USMA. I’d say, visit if possible before appointment so you know what you are in for.
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So what was the tipping point for your DS in terms of deciding in favor of USMA ?
 
He loves the history and tradition of West Point. He notice that they are very strict at USMA which is was he was looking for in preparation to becoming an officer. Also we were impressed by the way our RC and our FFO carried themselves...not to take away from officers from other branches...we were just impressed.
 
ParadiseMom3 said:
He loves the history and tradition of West Point. He notice that they are very strict at USMA which is was he was looking for in preparation to becoming an officer. Also we were impressed by the way our RC and our FFO carried themselves...not to take away from officers from other branches...we were just impressed.
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We feel the same way towards USMA ( we have not been there ), hopefully next year SLE.
 
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